Flushometer.



. PAT-EDITED OCT. so, 1906.

,R. A; BROOKS.

FLUSHOMETER. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 2, 1904 onrrnn s'rnirns PATENT orrron. "'RCB'ERT A. B ROOK S:I); gl;IhG O ILLINOIS.

FLusHoMsTnn. i

To aZZ whom it mag/concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. BRooKs, a

- citizen of the United States, and a resident of titled charge.

the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in F lushometers and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description'of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of refer ence marked thereon, which form a part of and have proven objectionable because requiring constant repairs.

The object of this invention is to afford a self-operating flushoineter or flush-valve of small size and adapted to be connected in the supply-pipe leading to urinals and other toilet-fixtures and by means of which the quantity of fluid delivered in flushing and the duration of the flush can be perfectly regulated and also adapted-to be at justed for flushing at either short or long intervals, as preferred.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and morefully pointed out and defined in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings, Figure l. is a central vertical section showing the flush-valve closed. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 or" Fig. 1. Fig, 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 01" Fig. 1.. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the flushometer immediately after the full opening of the valve. Fig. I 5 is a section taken on line 5 .5 of Fig. 4.. taken on line 6 6 of Fig.4.

As shown in said drawings, said iiushometer or flush-valve comprises a hollow base A, of cast metal, in which the flush-pipe Acommunicates at its axis and leads to the fixture to be flushed. A pipe a connects in the side of said base and communicates with the inte Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 2,1994. Serial No. 281,069.

counterweightby means of a pipe or sleeve Fig. 6' is a section Patented Oct. 30, 1906.

rior cored chamber therein. Threaded and brazed upon the upper end of said base is a tubular casing a, which may be of any desired diameter and within which is contained the operating mechanism. The up er end-ace of said casing is internally screw-t eadied and, as shown, is closed by a removable screw cap or cover a Threaded into the top of said base and extending downwardly in the chamber therein 'is a cylindric sleeve B, the upper end of which is flared outwardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which extends upwardly for approximately a third of the height of the casing and in'which fits a coun terweight B, of lead or'other suitable material, on the lower end ofwhich is provided a hydraulic. washer of leather 1), which fits within the sleeve B and is held in place by a disk or plate b", rigidly secured beneath the 13 b which extends axially through said counterweight and is threaded at its lower end for engagement with said valve disk or plate 6 Within said sleeve or tube 6 is provided a stem 5, having an enlarged head b at its upper end and a sliding washer 6 near its lower end. A spiral pushingspring b" is engaged aroundlsaid stem between the head of the same and said washer. Beneath said. washer and engaging against the valve-plateb is a stronger spring 5 Said springs act together to hold said stem in an elevated position, and on the lower threaded end of said stein, which extends through the vai-ve-plateis carried the flushing-valve plate IE affording a downwardly-opening recess, in which is secured a fiber or other suitable washer b which affords a closure for the flush-pipe. As shown, a reversible valveseat is provided between the flush-valve and 5 the flush-pipe, comprising asleeve b, one end of which extends into the iiush-pipe and the other of which affords a seat for the fiber washer b. A central peripheral flange 11 is provided on said sleeve, and in each side of the same-in close relation to the sleeve is a concentric channel or groove. A leather.or other suitable packing-washer b is engaged on the lower end of said sleeve and bears against the seat in the bottom of the base, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and afiords a tight joint, The upper end otsaid pipe or sleeve 6 is externally screw-threaded and closed and extends above said weight, and an oil or fluid containing chamber 0 is carried thereon, no

- casing. Said oil chamber or cup is closed.

flared outwardly at the top," as shown at c,

into close proximity with the inner side of ahe o a height approximately equal to the hei ht of the sleeve B and with its contents a 0rd a part of the weight whereby the valve is Threaded into the top of said casing is an externall -threaded ring (1, having integral radial an downwardlynclined arms d, which are united by a central hub d, positioned axially of the casing. Fitting loosel in and extending downwardly from said hu is atubular stem D, near the upper end of which is a flange d, which bears against the under side of said hub. The upper end of said stem is provided above the hub with an internallysthreaded seat adapted to receive the threaded end of the tubular adjustingnut (i provided at its upper end with a flange d, which 6 tends peripherally beyond the stem and is adapted for manual engagement, Said tubular stem D is screw-threaded at its lower end, and supported thereon at a point slightly below the top of the oilchamber when the fiushometer is fully closed is a piston-head D, provided on its upper side with a periphera and an upwardly-directed flange d, which its closely within said chamber. On the under side of said pistonhead is rovided a hydraulic packing-washer d whic is held in place by a downwardlyflanged plate d, which fits within said washer and is also threaded on the lower end of said stern, which extends through and below the same. Said stem at its lower end is reamed out to afford a cylindric chamber, which tapers upwardly and communicates, through a restricted passage, with the bore in the stem, and a valve-closure d is secured loosely therein and is tapered at its upper end to fitthe taper in said chamber. Said valve-closure is retained from falling from said valve-chamber by means of a nut d", which is threaded on the lower end of the stem and provided with a restricted aperture therethrough sufiiciently small to prevent said closure from falling therethrough, and, as shown, the lower end of said closure is notched transversely to prevent the same closing said aperture, thus affording a passage through the lower end of said stem by means of which a liquid contained within the cup above the piston-head and entering the stem through the aperture (1 slightly above said piston -head is permitted to escape downwardly into the oil-chamber and through which, if the closure d" is held from seating, the fluid in the chamber can also pass upwardly, escaping through said aperture above the piston as the flushing-valve is opening. For this purpose a threaded rod d extends through said nut (i and the stem D and is adapted to be engaged at its lower end with a needle 1 carried on the end of said closure (5, which holds the same from seating. A milled head (1 is provided on the upper end of said rod (Z whereby the same is actuated, and, as shown, a set-nut d is engaged on said rod and is adapted to rigidly engage the same in adjusted position. As shown, a downwardly-openin valve is provided through said pistonshear, adapted to aflord quick release of the pressure on the fluid in the cup and a comparatively rapid flow of the fluid from above th pi ton through said valve back into said cup or oilchamber. For this urpose, as shown, an aperture is provided through said istonhead ad'acent it's periphery and a tu e E is threads therein and extends above said head end" is provided with a plurality of apertures therein, as shown in Figs. 1 and i. The lower end of said tube is reamed out to at ford a conical seat adapted to receive a conical closure E, on the upper endo'f which is an. upwardly-extending stem e. Pivotally supported on the under side of the head, on a downwardly extending bracket 6, is a lever 8 upon the lighter end of which is pivotally engaged said. closure in position to seat, in the lower end of said pipe. The other end of the lever is heavier and directed downwardly into position to be enga ed and actuated by the bottom of the oil-c ambi ir at approximately the upward limit of movement thereof.

As shown, the u per end of the pipe E is screwsthr-eaded and ternally-threaded closed cap e, which is shaped at the upper end to ada t the same for engagement with a screxwdriver, wrench, or other suitable tool for turning the same, and at the lower end of which is aiiorded a larger bore e into which the apertures in said pipe open and within which seats the upper end of a spiral spring a, the lower end of which bears upon the piston-head and acts to hold said cap in adusted position when turned upwardly or downwardly on said stem to partly close one or more of the apertures extending therethrough.

The operation is as follows: In adjusting the device for use the base A is screwed upon the flush-pipe A and connected with a supply-pipe a, as shown in Figs. 1, and 4. The weight B and the attached oil or iluid containing chamber C thereon are dropped into place, with the lush-valve thereof closing the upper end of the flushing-pipe. Sullicient oil or other suitable fluid is then poured into the oil cup or chamber to nearly iill the same, and the ring d, with the piston-head swiveled therein, is inserted in the top of the cup'and is screwed downwardly therein, bringing the top of said piston below the top of the oil cup or chamber when the cup is atits lowest posecured thereon in an 1nsee,

sition, as shown in Fig. 1. The rod d is then adjusted to prevent the closure d from seating upwardly in the stem and the water is turned on to enable the device to be timed. Should the flushing occur too rapidly, the threaded rod (Z is retracted slightly to permit the closure d -to more nearly seat in sai d I stem. This retards the flow of the fluid above the-piston through the valve in the stem, thus enabling the valve to be accurately timed for opening, inasmuch as the ushing-valve cannot open until the greater part of the fluid in the chamber has passed above the piston. Having timed the device satisfactorily for the intervals between sue-- OGSSiVB fiushings, the duration of the flush andv necessarily the amount of water or other fluid delivered during flushing is regulated .by adjusting the screw-cap d. I If the screwcap is elevated sufliciently to exposeall the apertures leading into the ipe E to their I full extent, the oil or other uid will quickly flow back into the oil-chamber, permitting the same to descend quickly by its own gravity and that'of'the weight B, closing the valve, aifording a very brief flush. If a long flush is desired, the screw-cap is turned downwardly, partly obstructing said lapeltures and limiting the flow of the fiuidfrom above the piston through the same. In this manner the discharge may be varied to a long 101 short period, as preferred. Having adjusted the device, as before described, and the valve being closed, the pressure upon the by draulic packing at the lower end of the weight B acts to force said weight and the oil-chamber upwardly, causing the oil or other liquid in the chamber to flow upwardly past-the valve-closure (Z and through the aperture d in the stem and above the piston. As the weight and oil-chamber move upwardly the weaker spring 12 is first com- I pressed by the pull on the flushing-valve, I

inasmuch as said fiushing-valve remains closed by the downward pressure of the Water. When said spring is compressed, the pressure increases sufficiently to the stronger spring b oil-chamber is now in contact with the weighted end of the lever 6 so that further upward movement actuates said lever, withdrawing the valve-closure E from its seat in v the lower end of the pipe instantly removing the pressure from the oil-chamber, owing to the escape of fluid through the pipe E. This produces asudden upward jump of the oil-chamber and through the joint action of the springs b and jerks the flushingwalve from its seat, snapping the same upwardly I to a position shown in Fig. 4, or, in other 1 ,Words, against the lower end of the weight. 1

compress -The bottom of the The closing movement immediately begins. The gravity of the movable structure within the casing, including the oil-chambethnd its contents, causes the weight to gradually slide downwardly, the rate of downward movement being determined by the rate of flow from above the piston into said chamber through the valve in the. stem D g the apertures in said pipe E. The flushing operation cannot cease until the weight has descended sufficiently to bring the closure into positive contact upon the upper end of the sleeve 5. The opening movement then at once begins. By the use of said sleeve 12 the wear upon the seat on the upper side of the base'and also-on the packingwasher 5 is avoided, and should. the upper or seating end of the sleeve become slightly worn the packing-washer b may be moved to the other side of the flange and said sleeveinverted, thus ail'ording a new bearing-face. Owing to the groove in the base of said flange b", greater pressure is aiiorded above than below said flange, thus acting to hold the same firmly seated when the flushing valve is opened. As shown, an aperture positioned at F in the casing is provided at suflicient height above the base to prevent the escape of any fluid therefrom should any find its way into the casing and also to afford access of air into the casing. For the purpose of draining out any fluid. that might possibly find its way within the casing a passage 9 is provided in one side of the base, which exand through r tends downwardly therein and communicates with the passage g, which opens into the flushing-pipe below the iiushingvalve. Seated in said passage is a check-valve G", carried upon a screw-plug G, which permits free drainage into the flushing-pipe, but prevents any backtlow therefrom.

While i have shown but one construction embodying my invention, 1 do not purpose limiting this application. otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art, as obviously many details of construction and operation may be varied without departing from the principle of my invention.

I claim my invention I 1. In an automatically-operating ilushometer the combination with a valve of a fluid receptacle movably supported. above the same, a weight on lic packing on said weight of greater diameter thansaid .valve, a stationarypiston in said receptacle, a regulable passage therethrough,

a trip-valve adapted to control the opening said receptacle, a hydrau- ITO through the piston, means thereon adapted i to contact with the bottom of said receptacle to operate the trip-valve and resilient means acting to unseat the valve when the trip valve is open.

2. In. an autoinatically-operating flushometer, the combination with. a Water-chamber, of a valve adapted to close the outlet thereof, a movable fluid-receptacle above said valve, a piston therein adapted to elevate said movable receptacle, a sleeve connecting saiu piston with said receptacle, resilient means therein connecting the piston and valve and an automatically operated trip-valve'in said receptacle adapted to snap the outlet-valve from its seat at the upward limit of movement of said receptacle.

3. In an automatically-operating flushometer, the combination with an outlet-valve adapted to close with the pressure, of a fluidreceptacle, eldingly engaged therewith. a controlling iiiiid in said receptacle, a stationary piston in the receptacle, a regulable pas-- sage therethrongh, a tube opening tl'irough the piston and a trip-valve controlling the same and adapted to be operated by the movement of said receptacle.

4. An automatically-operating flushonreter comprising in combination with a supply-pipe and a flush-pipe, a valve seatedv to close the flush-pipe W1th the pressure and adapted to open automatically, a movable cup yieldingly engaged therewith, a iluid therein, a stationary piston in said cup, means permitting a graduated flow of fluid therethrough and a normally closed valve in ing into the cup, at controlling said piston adapted to be operated by the movements of the cup.

5. In an automatically-operating flushometer, the combination with a casing of an inlet and an outlet pi e at the bottom thereof. a valve seated to c ose the outlet-pipe with the pressure, a sleeve extending upwardly therefrom concentric with the casing, a recip 'rocating cup above said sleeve, a weight carried thereon and extending into the sleeve, means thereon adapted. toraise the cup by fluid-pressure, means yieldingly connecting the valve and cup and means in the cup acting to control the movement thereof.

6. In an automatically-operating flushometer the combination with a closed casing, of a chamber in the bottom thereof, an inlet and an outlet connected in said chamber, a cylindric sleeve extending upwardly through the top of the chamber into the casing, a reciprocating cup above said sleeve, means thereon fitting closely in said sleeve and adapted to operate the cup, a stationary piston extendfluid in said cup, and a trip-valve in said. piston adapted to be operated by the movement of the cup.

7. An automatically-opcrating fiushome- 'ter comprising in combination, a closed casing, an inlet-pipe and a flushing-pipe, avalve seated to close the flushing-pipe, a verticallyextending sleeve concentric With the casing, a weight fitting closely therein and yieldingly connected With the valve and subjected to the upward pressure of the Water from the supply-pipe and acting to open the valve thereby and valve-controlled means connected With said Weight acting to regulate the descent of the same to close the valve.

8. An automatic flushomcter comprising in combination an inlet-pipe and a flushingpipe, a valve seated to close the flushing-pipe 1 ed to control the rate of upward. movement ceases with the pressure, a cylindric casing surrounding said valve and concentric there with, a weight titted Within said casing, hydraulic packing carried at too lower end of the same an d against whiel'i the ii 'nvard pres sure from the supply acts, a resilient. connection between said Weight and the valve adapted to permit upward movement oi the weight independently of the valve, means acting near the limit of imward movement to unseat the valve, regulable means actii'ig to control the rate oi upvr 12rd mor'en'ient oi said Weight and regulablo means 1 do control the rate of downward iiioreiiieiil ol said Weight in closing the r 9. in an automotive-ll eter, the combination in." s inlet and a lush pipe connected the bottom thereot, of a valve seal-i the flush-pipe with the press-sire fluid-containing ciuunber aliiovc adapted to be lifted by inlet spring aliording the i'onoertioii bi iluidszhaniber and l .l alro perm cli g. Ward movement of chamber i ently of said valve and acting to lil'iv tb near its limit of upward more wn fitted in said chamber, a hi ing; therein adapted to cont ol i c in said cl'iamher above the pisto turn lloi-v therethrough and meme ing said regulating-valve.

10. in an automatic llushomotor the ow bination with a casing having an inlet 1; m llush pi )e connected therein, of a valve or ing to close the flush-pipe with the pres a fluid-containing chamber in said adapted to be lifted by inlet-qWesson, tive connection between said chambe and valve adapting said chamber to limit d Ward movement independently oi sa' and to lift said valve near the limit oi he no Ward movement, a lined piston in the top oi said chamber, a regulatingvalve thwo ifl. means for adjusting said valve to control rho w rate of flow through the piston during i upward movement ol. said chamber, l'o .rlease-valve in the piston norimilly closed don ing the upward movement of said chamber and adapted to be opened near the upworii l limit of such movement \vherobv the ll[)\\'lll\l movement of the chamber is accelerated and, the lluid above the piston llows back into the chamber as the cylinder descends.

ll. In an automatic llushomclor the routbination with a casing of an inlet-pipe open ing thercinto, a flushing-pipe opening axially from the casing, a flushing-val e sealed to close the same with the pressure, a lhiidwontaming chamber connected with the lhisbing valve and positioned above the valve and adapted to be lifted by inlotepressurc and to unseat the flushing-valve near the uptivard limitof itsmovement, IQglllztllll means adapt to control the rate of' downward movement and the valve, a fixed piston in said chamber valve in said piston normally closed against upward pressure and adapted to be opened of said chamber in seating the valve. automatically near the upward limit of move- 12. In an automatic flushometer the com--. ment of the chamber affording quick release bination' witha casing of an inlet-pipe openof the pressure in said chamber and permiting thereinto, a flushing-pipe opening axially ting said chamber to fall by gravity to close therefrom, a valve seated to close said fiushthe valve and means timing the discharge ing-pipe with the pressure, a fluid-containing through said valve. v c amber in said casing adapted to be forced In testimony whereof I have hereunto subupwardly by inlet-pressure, springs affording I scribed my name in the presence of two sub 25 a yielding connection between said chamber scribing witnesses.

' ROBERT A. BROOKS;

Witnesses:

C. J. W., HILLS, HJALMAR S. RUDD.

of said chainber and a release-valve adapted,

above which the fluid in said chamber isforced by upward movement of the chamber, means regulating the same and a release- 

